Keane closes title gap to five following treble Colin Keane is putting up a spirted defence of his jockeys’ championship and completed a treble today on Madbadanddangerous (5/2f) in Naas’ Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden, to move within five of Dylan Browne McMonagle. Six-time champion Keane, who became Juddmonte Farms’ retained rider in June and served a 14-day suspension in July/August, has competed slightly less in Ireland this season but today closed the gap to 72-77 on leader Browne McMonagle, who himself is currently suspended until Monday. Having earlier partnered a double for trainer Michael O’Callaghan, Keane completed his haul on Madbadanddangerous, which tracked the leaders before eventually edging to the front close home, for a head win over Duke Of Cumberland . Keane reported “Madbadanddangerous had a lovely run the first day when he was slowly away. Mentally he’s still not fully there yet but he’s a horse with plenty of size and scope. Noel is brilliant at buying those relatively cheap horses and turning them into maiden winners. “I got to Ronan (Whelan, on Duke Of Cumberland) well and when I felt I had him covered it was just hands and heels from there to the line. I thought he won snug enough. He probably will get a mile in time but he’s so big he’s maybe a fraction weak at the back and I’d imagine there will be no rush for the rest of the year.” Quotes from Alan Magee
